Baling-machine.



. Pa ten'tBd May 13, I902.

A. D, THOMAS. 'BA L INGMAGHINE. (Application filebl Fb. is, 1902.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT O FIoEJ.

ABNER D. THOMAS, OF IJITTLE ROOK, ARKANSAS, ASSIGNOR TO THOMAS GIN-COMPRESS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ARKANSAS.

-BALING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 699,936, dated May 13, 1902. Application filed February 151 1902. Serial No. 94,l6 5. (No model.

To all whom, it puny-concern:

Be it known that I, ABNER D. THOMAS, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Little relates to baling-machines, and more espe' cially to that class or type of such machines which are designed for handling cotton or similar fibrous material and forming it into a bale as it comes from a condenser.

My present invention is designed as an improvement over the baling-machine shown and described in the patent to R. S. Manger, No. 680,164, August 6, 1901. By reference to said patent it will be noted that there is provided a revoluble platform or carrier for a plurality of bale-boxes, and located in stationary supports above said platform in a position to transfer cotton into one of the bale-boxes is a charging-chamber, into which the cotton is delivered direct from the gin, a plunger or tramper working through said charging-chamber serving to force the cotton therefrom into the bale-box beneath. When the bale-box beneath the charging-chamber is sufficiently filled with the material to be baled, it is transferred by a movement of the platform or carrier either to the finishing side of the pressor in a position to have the bale taken therefrom. During such transfer of boxes it is evident that either the gin or condenser in the construction of the patent re ferred to must be stopped until an empty bale -box is placed beneath the chargingchamber, and it is likewise evident that the cut off or gate carried by the plunger or tramper will at each reciprocation of the tramper or plunger pass with it through the charging-chamber.

Among the objects of my present invention may be mentioned the provision of means whereby'the gin and condenser may continue in operation during the transfer of the baleboxes carried by the revoluble platform or carrier and the provision of means also for permitting the flow of cotton or other mate rial from the condenser to be cutoff at pleasure .from its passage into the charging-chamber, which in some cases, especially where fire occurs in either the condenser or bale, becomes of prime importance. It frequently happens also in this class of machines where steam is used to actuate the plunger or tramper that the condensed steam in the cylinder is frequently carried by the piston-rod to be deposited upon the cotton, thereby injuring the same, and among the objects of my present invention also is the provision of means for obviating this defect.

,While I have stated above that my inven tion is an improvement over Patent No. 680,164, it is not to be understood therefrom that the same is limited in its application to the particular type of balling-machine or cotton-press therein shown and described, as the same may be employed with advantage in any balingmachine or cotton press wherein a plunger operates in the general manner hereinbefore referred to to bale cotton or like material in a bale-box, and I therefore desire it to be understood that my invention consists, broadly, in providing instrumentalities for securing the objects hereinbefore enumerated, as well as others, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the drawings, Fi ure 1 represents in side elevation a sufficient portion of the balingmachine to makeclear the application of my invention thereto. Fig, 2 is a sectional view of the cylinder. with the piston and tramper in connection therewith. Fig. 3 is a detail View showing the detachable means for connecting the cut-0E with the tramper. Fig. 4 is a detail modification showing achargingchamber provided with a movable bottom.

In the drawings, A represents any usual or preferred form of condenser which may be connected to the usual cotton-gins and which being of common well-known construction need not be herein described in detail. Connected with the condenser is the casing F, the sides of which extend down to the bottom F of said casing. Located in suitable relation to the casing F, near the lower portion thereof, is the charging-chamber B, supported stationary on suitable framework, as set forth in the patent referred to, such charging-chamber being normally open at top and bottom. \Vithin the casing F and hinged at a is a directing-chute a, which as the cotton or like material is delivered from the condenser A directs the same into the chargingchamber B.

One of the sidesb of the charging-chamber B is hinged at its lower edge to the adjacent sides I) of said charging-chamber in a manner such that the side b may turn upon its hinge b from the full to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1 between the side walls of the inclosing casing F. The directingchute a is pivotally united to the side I) of the charging-chamber at c, a slot 0 being preferably provided in the side of the directingchute a, so that they may be turned from the position shown in full to that shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The charging-chamber B at its lower end is provided with a movable bottom b which when in normal position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, permits ready passage of material through the charging-chamber. Alink b pivoted at b and having slotted ends 0 c, is connected to the movable bottom I) and to the pivotal connection 0 between the directing-chute a and side I) of the charging-chamber, the said link Z1 being operated at desired times by means of an operating-handle E, whereby as said link b is turned about its pivot Z)" the movable bottom is pushed into dotted-line position shown in Fig. 1 to close the bottom of the charging-chamber, and the side I) and directing-chute a are moved into their dotted-line position, as shown in said figure, the efiect of which is that when the parts are in the dotted-line position referred to the charging-chamber B becomes a hopper with a closed bottom to hold any material that may be fed thereinto, and the movement of the side I) of the hopper into dotted-line position materially increases the capacity of the holding-space for material which is delivered from the condenser.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a modified form of my charging-chamber in which the side is not hinged, as shown in Fig. 1; but in said Fig. 4: the charging-chamber B has a movable bottom b as above, a handle E, pivoted at e and having a slotted connection Q with said bottom, serving to move the bottom 0 in position either to close or open the bottom of the charging-chamber.

\Vhile I have described the preferred embodiment of my invention as shown in Fig. 1, in which the charging-chamber B has a hinged side I) to thereby increase the capacity of the charging-chamber when the bottom thereof is closed, it is evident, as shown by Fig. 4, that the side of the charging-chainber need not be hinged, as in Fig. 1, but simply a movable or sliding bottom be provided, operated by a handle E, to close the bottom of the charging-chamber at such times as may be desired-as, for instance, during the shifting of the bale-boxes.

Supported in suitable position above the charging-chamber B is a cylinder I-I, having suitable inlet and exhausting means, as 71- h, either for air, water, or steam, whereby the piston 11, carrying the piston-rods 7L2, maybe operated, and thereby move the tramper or plunger C, secured to said piston-rods, in its reciprocating movement to force the material from the charging-chamber into the bale-box beneath. I have shown in Fig. 2 the cylinder provided with a piston carrying two piston-rods, as this is one of the preferred forms of construction in use; but it is evident, of course, that the number of such piston-rods may be varied as desired.

The lower head H of the cylinder H is provided with the inwardly-projecting bosses or projections 7L3, thereby forming pockets or cup-shape receptacles 7r, in which water of condensation may be collected and carried away by the waste-pipe h, controlled by a suitable valve h. It will be seen from the construction of cylinder-head referred to that any condensed moisture that may occur within the cylinder and be deposited on the piston-rods will be removed therefrom as the rods pass through their bearings in the lower heads of the cylinder and will collect in the cup-shape, portion 71., so that such moisture will not be forced through the bearings of the piston-rods as the piston reaches the lower end of its stroke.

The casing F is provided with a feed-opening f, through which material passes down the directing-chute a into the charging-chamber B. However, when the plunger or tramper 0 moves in its downward stroke into the charging-chamber B to force the cotton into the bale-box D beneath it becomes necessary to close the feed-opening f, so that the cotton coming down the directing-chute awill ICC not fall upon the top of the tramperor plunger O, and this I accomplish by providing a cutoff G. (Shown in detail in Fig. 3.) This cutoff comprises a suitable plate, near the lower edge of which is supported a slide-bar g, having a slot or pin connection with the plate, as shown at 9 Fig. 3, the said slide-bar 9 carrying projections g. The tramper or plunger C is composed of. a series of slats 0 spaced apart, the said slats being secured to a crosspiece o,to which piston-rods ]L2 are connected. The space separating the slats c is such that the projections g may pass freely through them when the bar g is moved to the position opposite that shown in Fig. 3, but at other times the said projections g are in position to be engaged by the slats 0 so that on the upward movement of the tramper or plunger the cut-off G will be carried by the tramper or plunger in its upward movement.

The cut-off G travels in guideways G made in the frame F, as shown in Fig. 1, the said cut-off G being of proper dimensions to fully close the feed-opening f when the plunger or tramper C descends into the charging-chamber B, the lower edge of the cut-oil. G at such times engaging the upper edge of the sides of the charging-chamber B and resting thereon Without movement into the charging-chamher as the tramper or plunger continues its movement through the charging-chamber to force the cotton or other material into the bale-box.

It willbe noted from the above description that the cut-off G is not permanently connected with the tramper or plunger 0, but moves therewith only in that portion of the travel of the tramper or plunger above the upper edgejof the charging-chamber, and while I have shown and described the particular form of sliding bar 9 and its projections as one of the means for forming the detachable connection between the cut-off and the tramper or plunger to cause the cut-01f I to move with the plunger only to the upper part of the charging-chamber to close the feed-opening f and not to enter said chargingcan, when the cut-off is in its lowered position covering the feed-opening f, be moved so as to bring the projections g in line with the openings between the slats 0 of the tramper or plunger, in which relation of parts the tramper or plunger will rise and permit the cut-01f to remain in its lowered position on top of the charging-chamber, a position es pecially desirable to close the condenser from the bale when fire occurs in either of them.

It is evident, of course, that. the details of structure hereinbefore enumerated may be varied within the scope of myinvention; but I deem of special importance in connection with a baling-maehine in which a chargingchamber is employed the provision of means for converting the chamber temporarily into a hopper or receptacle to receive and hold the cotton or like material at desired timesas, for instance, when the bale-box beneath the charging-chamber is being replaced by another. It is likewise obvious that this result may be secured by providing a sliding bottom for said charging-chamber which will close the lower end of said charging-chamber and convert the same into a receptacle, and I may, if desired, use in connection with such sliding bottom a hinged side to increase the holding capacity of the charging-chamber, and while I have shown particular construction of means for securing these results it is to be understood that my invention is not limited in this respect.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a baling-machine, the combination of a charging-chamber, a baling-box adapted to be moved beneath said charging-chamber, and means for closing the bottom of the charging-chamber as desired to permit material to be fed thereinto while the boxes are being changed.

2. In a baling-machine, the combination of a charging-chamber, a tramper or plunger movable into said charging-chamber, a baling-boX adapted to be moved beneath said chamber, and means'for closing the bottom of the charging-chamber as desired to permit material to be fed thereinto while the boxes are being changed.

3. In a baling-machine, the combination of a charging-chamber adapted to receive material to be baled, a tramper or plunger movable into said charging-chamber, means for preventing the material from entering said charging-chamber above saidtramper head or plunger, a baling-box adapted to be moved beneath said charging-chamber, and a movable bottom for said charging-chamber to permit material to be fed thereinto while the boxes are being changed.

4. In a baling-machine having movable baling-boxes, the combination of a chargingchamber open at its upper and lower ends, a reciprocating tramper or plunger movable in said chamber and out of the upper end thereof to a position above said chamber, means for delivering material into the said chamber, and means detachably connected with the tramper or plunger for cutting off the supply of material to the charging-chamber when said tramper or plunger enters said chamber.

5. In a baling-machine, the combination of a charging-chamber, a bale-box adapted to be placed beneath the said chamber, means for delivering material direct from the gin or condenser into said charging-chamber, a tramper or plunger movable into said chamber to transfer the material into the bale-box, a cut-ofi for stopping the delivery of material into the charging-chamber while the tramper or plunger is operating therein, and means for detachably connecting the cut-off and tramper or plunger to cause the former to move with the latter during the portion of its travel above the charging-chamber.

6. In a baling-chamber, the combination of ICC while the tramper or plunger is raised above the said chamber.

'7. In a baling-machine, the combination of a charging-chamber, bale-boxes adapted to be moved beneath the charging-chamber, and means for retaining material in the chargingchamber during the change of boxes beneath said chamber.

8. In a baling-machine, the combination of a charging-chamber having a movable side, bale-boxes adapted to be moved beneath the charging-chamber, and means for moving the side into a position to increase the capacity of the charging-chamber as the boxes are changed beneath the said chamber.

9. In a baling-machine, the combination of a charging-chamber having a movable side and bottom, bale-boxes adapted to be moved beneath the charging-chamber and means for moving the side into a position to increase the capacity of the charging-chamber and to close the bottom thereof.

10. In a baling-machine, the combination of a charging-chamber for receiving material to be baled and having a hinged side and movable bottom, bale-boxes adapted to be moved beneath said charging-chamber, a

tramper or plunger, means for moving it into and out of said chamber, and means for turning the side of the charging-chamber upon its hinge and closing the bottom of said chamber as the boxes are changed beneath the chamber, whereby supply of material to said chamber need not be interrupted.

11. In a baling-machine, the combination of a charging-chamber for receiving material to be baled direct from the gin or condenser, said chamber having a hinged side and movable bottom, a linkvconnecting said side and bottom to cause simultaneous movement thereof, bale boxes movable beneath the charging-chamber and operating means for said link, whereby the capacity of the charging-chamber may be increased and its bottom closed While the boxes are changed beneath said chamber to permit a continuous supply of material to be received into the chamber.

12. In a baling-machine, the combination of bale-forming mechanism, a baling-box adapted to be moved beneath said baling mechanism and means interposed between the baling mechanism and bale-box for receiving and holding material to be baled during the change of bale-boxes beneath said means to thereby permit the continuous operation of the supplying means.

ABNER D. THOMAS.

Witnesses:

WM. E. FARRELL, J. A. WATKINS. 

